the Minister of Justice launches an “administrative investigation” after the organization of events inspired by “Koh Lanta”

The Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, announced on Saturday August 20 on Twitter have “ordered an investigation” administrative after the organization, within the prison of Fresnes, of tests inspired by the televised game ” Koh Lanta “, for the benefit of associations. This event, called “Kohlanness”took place on July 27 within the Val-de-Marne establishment, but a video was broadcast on Friday August 19, in particular on Youtube, immediately sparking a lively controversy.

Three teams – inmates, guards and inhabitants of Fresnes – competed in various tests: questionnaire, karting, mime or tug of war over a swimming pool.

The Keeper of the Seals tweeted: “After the shocking images from Fresnes prison, I immediately ordered an investigation so that all the light could be shed. The fight against recidivism goes through reintegration but certainly not through karting! ».

In the video, Djibril Dramé, organizer of this “Koh Lanta of the cities” – of which a first edition opposing young people and police officers had taken place in July in the city of Fresnes – specified that the detainees who participated in the game were in detention “for short sentences”.

“Okay, all the people (prisoners) who are there are there for a good reason and the path to reintegration is through work in prison, but we also have a duty not to put them aside and above all not to not forget that they are humans like you and like me”he added.

The director of the prison, Jimmy Delliste, had welcomed a “moment of fraternal commitment for the benefit of three associations”, thanking the organizers.

controversy among politicians

On Saturday, several far-right elected officials strongly criticized the organization of these “summer activities for inmates” in Fresnes. “During this time, one in three children does not go on vacation due to a lack of financial means. Taxpayers will be happy to see where their money goes”tweeted Hélène Laporte, vice-president RN of the National Assembly.

Deputy LR Eric Ciotti also protested: “Our prisons are not summer camps where inmates and guards weave bonds of friendship”.

Several police organizations also reacted negatively, such as the union of internal security executives (SCSI-CFDT) judging the images “shocking” and ironic about Twitter : “Prison should promote reintegration, but should it turn into a leisure centre? ».

Cédric Boyer, FO Justice manager at Fresnes prison, told AFP that “reintegration involves vocational training, work, school and above all compensation for victims” and “Prison is a place of deprivation of liberty”.

Asked by AFP, the ministry pointed out that the Keeper of the Seals had “always shown to be in favor of prisoners being offered sports and cultural activities, but in the project as it had been presented, the activities as they were revealed in this video did not appear, in particular that of karting ».

Contacted by AFP, neither the director of the prison, nor the organizer of the game, nor the management of the prison administration could be reached.

The World with AFP